It’s safe to say that 2019 was over in a flash, and the time for New Year’s resolutions is just around the corner. While some people may have very specific ones in mind, there are many that hold universal significance for many people. Losing weight, finding a new job, maybe even making some profound changes in your personal life might be on the cards for you. Achieving your New Year’s resolutions is sometimes easier said than done, however, as they can be quite challenging.
If you are going to opt for some of the most sought-after life changes, then here’s the best way to achieve them.
Weight loss
It’s no surprise that many people want to add weight loss to their list of New Year’s resolutions. Right after the Christmas period, many people become self-conscious about their appearance, motivating them to shift a few pounds in the new year. However, famously, the new year is often the busiest time for gyms, as they become inundated with applications for memberships. If you want to lose weight, but don’t want to bail after the first month of intensive cardio, here are a few tips:
- Try not to be affected by fads but also be honest about what does work for you. What works for one person might not benefit you. Don’t be ashamed about admitting what works for you, either. Some people might find joy in weight loss shakes, while others might find controlled portioning works for them. It’s helpful to acknowledge what is genuinely keeping you on track and what is leaving you feeling hungry or dissatisfied.
- Make fundamental changes to your diet. If you have a sweet tooth and that’s your ultimate weakness, you will need to stop buying in your usual indulgences on a regular basis. Enjoy your favourite food, but in moderation. You will also need to become more accustomed to filling your plate with fruits and vegetables.
- Don’t tell yourself that you aren’t allowed certain foods. If you tell yourself you can’t have something, that’s all you’ll ever want. Eat intuitively; i.e., when you want and need to eat.
Get a new job
The most important approach to take when finding a new job is not to lose hope. If you feel as if you couldn’t possibly begin a new career, then what is standing in your way?
- Is your CV out of date?
- Do you have no formal work clothes to attend interviews in?
- Could you get some more experience via some out-of-hours work?
- Are you out of practice when it comes to interviews?
All of these are fixable, and you will shoot yourself in the foot if you give up hope before you even try. Making a check-list to tick off will put you in the mindset that you are progressing, regardless of how pessimistic you feel. You can’t move forward if you don’t put yourself out there.
Get organised
In order to get organised, you will have to find a goal that really motivates you. Often, we procrastinate because we feel anxious about committing, but also because we resent what we’re working towards. If you can find a reason you believe in to finally organise yourself, then you are far more likely to start getting your work in order. Try to also take your tasks one step at a time. If you try to mentally pick apart a large jumble of commitments, you will immediately feel overwhelmed. Instead, try and rank them in order of importance, and then you can start to gradually work your way through them, knowing you won’t accidentally drop one through absent-mindedness.
Save money
While we’re on the topic of motivational targets, saving money appeals to most people. It’s sometimes easier said than done, however. We’re in an age of wage stagnation, and many people feel as if they’ll never really be able to put enough away for a deposit on a house. Hunting around for better utility and phone providers and cancelling any unnecessary direct debits are just some of the ways in which you can start leaving yourself with more money to save. You may even want to set yourself a standing order to a savings account to force yourself to put the money away.
When you set your New Year’s resolutions for 2020, be careful not to put too much pressure on yourself to get them right the first time. Give yourself plenty of room to miss your target and adapt and learn.